Publications

The benefits of making a charitable donation are countless – from helping those in need to the personal satisfaction of giving back to the causes that are important to us. Charitable giving also makes good sense from a tax perspective. With proper planning, you can reduce your total income tax liability and maximize the value of your donation.

Many Canadians enjoy spending time in the U.S., and at some point may consider the purchase of a U.S. vacation property. As a result, it is important for Canadians to fully understand U.S. reporting and tax issues related to their ownership of U.S. real property, in addition to any Canadian tax implications.

Nearly two in five business owners are wondering who will take over their business and how they will transition it to a successor. However, the majority of them do not have a formal plan to exit their business or preserve the continuity of the business upon retirement. As small business owners shift gears and look to retirement, decisions about when and how to retire will have a significant impact on their personal financial situations and the future of their businesses.

Many U.S. citizens have lived in Canada most of their lives and often think of themselves as Canadians. This may be true in terms of national pride and culture; however, their U.S. citizenship means they must fulfil their U.S. income tax filing requirements. U.S. citizenship is acquired by being born in the U.S. or being born to U.S. citizen parents, and often the tax implications of being a U.S. citizen are overlooked. The U.S. imposes income tax on the worldwide income of U.S. persons, including U.S. citizens, U.S. residents and Green Card holders, regardless of where they reside. As a result, U.S. persons have annual U.S. income tax filing and reporting requirements that exist regardless of where they call home, and how much time they spend in the U.S.

The attached article – Preparing Your Last Will and Testament – explains various aspects of Will preparation including, the importance of appointing an appropriate executor, life events that warrant a Will review and the use of testamentary trusts.